So what was your favourite party game and why?

Hopefully the exit is different from the entrance, in that a lift would be really handy when accessing the cloud…

But hang on, let’s imagine if that were possible… The fastest elevator currently is Taipai 101 in Taiwan. It travels at a speed of 59 km/hr (37 mph). If we assume our average white fluffy cloud to be at a height of 4km (2.4 miles), then this elevator would take us 4 min and 6 sec to reach our destination. Pretty impressive when you consider that the first ever elevator installed by the Otis elevator company in 1857 in New York travelled at a modest 20cm per second (40ft per min). That would definitely require a packed lunch for our Otis elevator trip, with a duration 5 hrs and 33 minutes.

But you know what? I think I’d take the old tech option and enjoy the journey.

Which elevator would you take and why?

And now for something completely different…Yes, you’re right, not one of my normal cartoons. I thought I’d mix it up a bit and share with you some of the other cartooning work I do.

I’ve been looking at ways of introducing art into our workplace as I’m believe that art helps spark people’s imagination and put simply, makes them feel good. But, the art had to fit in with the business environment (hey, we’re a serious bunch of engineers at work); it had to be another element of the business that made sense amongst the library of engineering standards, 3D CAD machines and meeting rooms.

Ultimately, this idea manifested itself into what I call The Art of Us. This is one panel from a growing series of panels that I’ve checker boarded onto the big blank beige wall opposite my desk (What is it about engineering offices and their love of all things beige or warm grey?). Each panel aims to depict in images and a few words the culture of our organisation and express what it means to work here. But best of all, it’s a community project and allows anyone in the business to get engaged in the art. These aren’t my ideas; these are the thoughts and feelings of people in the business. They simply tell me what they think one of our cultural strengths is and I interpret their thoughts and feelings into a one panel drawing.

So what do you think?

What word or phrase would you use to describe the culture of your workplace?

When was the last time you stuck your head in the sand?

Here’s a bit of trivia that’s possibly new to you…

Did you know there is a world RPS Society?No, not joking and they take the sport quite seriously. Their mission is as follows:

“The World RPS Society is dedicated to the promotion of Rock Paper Scissors as a fun and safe way to resolve disputes. We feel that conserving the roots of RPS is essential for the growth and development of the game and the players…”

What’s even more interesting is the history of this group.

“The Paper Scissors Stone Club was founded in London, England in 1842 immediately following the issuance of the 1842 law declaring “any decision reached by the use of the process known as Paper Scissors Stone between two gentleman acting in good faith shall constitute a binding contract. Agreements reached in this manner are subject to all relevant contract and tort law.” The law was seen as a slap in the face to the growing number of enthusiasts who played it strictly as a recreational activity, since for many constables it was taken to mean that the game could not be played simply for sport. The club was founded and officially registered to provide an environment free from the long arm of the law where enthusiasts could come together and play for honour.”

A little bit interested in this group? Check out their website.

Here are the basic rules, including illustrations for the correct hand signals

So are you in?

…make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products

Well, you could argue the cartoon meets the definition, but perhaps not quite the intent. However, it is probably this very loose definition that has allowed this word to become the latest buzz word in the workplace. How many company vision statements, business strategy plans and team meetings splash this word about with gay abandon these days, in the hope of reaping the benefits that successful innovation can bring to a business?

So tell me this, if innovation is our workplace salvation, then why do so many companies fail when it comes to the actual undertaking of innovation? In Diana Kander’s TED Talk Our approach to innovation is dead wrong she proposes an unconventional business approach to this challenge and in her innovation experiments with MBA students vs kindergarten kids, guess who wins?

Let me know what you think

PS. And then for a bit of fun, play the workplace bingo game with this freebie I made a couple of years back. Who would have thought office buzz words could be so much fun!

What day would you like to declare?

In the interest of research for this cartoon you’ll be pleased to know that I wasted my time, not yours, with the sole mission of finding the best of the very best in street signage. And I’m not talking about the bog standard funny signs you get when you simply type ‘funny signs’ into Google. No, I’m talking about witty, thought provoking signs, that you would have to trawl down to page 23,459 of Google, because that’s where you find the true gems of the internet.

What makes this find a bonus (at least for me), is that it’s by an Australian artist, Michael Peterson. Not only is his street signage clever, but it is a wonderful example of Australian humour…So, are you now just a wee bit curious?

If you want a smile the instant you click on the link, then this is the link for you.

PS. Share your thoughts. It only takes another click and few keyboard letters.